Target throwing machine



P. J. HEROLD TARGET THROWING MACHINE Filed Aug. 17, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR.

cc. 9, 1947. P. J. HEROLD TARGET THROWING IVIAGIIIIIE Filed Au 17, 19454 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

PETE .z flewaw Dec 9, 1947.. P. J. HEROLD TARGET THROWING MACHINE FiledAug. l7, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ems. 9, 1947. P. J. HEROLD I TARGETVTHROWING MACHINE Filed Aug. '17, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 I I I I I I II I I I I w I4 n 0 .VIIIII III/III maj INVENTOR.

4 rrokzvzx M K J E 7 Patented Dec. 9, 1947 UNl'lED STATES PATENT OFFICE17 Claims.

This invention relates to the so-called traps for projecting disks ortargets into the air in trap or skeet shooting sports, and shootingpractice generally, and the invention has for its principal object toprovide novel and improved means for automatically controlling thefeeding of the targets from a magazine to and from the throwing arm.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedtarget throwing machine capable of adjustment to alter the plane ofdischarge of the targets.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedtarget throwing machine for skeet shooting or the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedtarget throwing machine capable of handling a large supply of target-sat each loading and with substantially complete absence of cracking orfracturing of targets.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedtarget throwing machine of relatively light weight, capable of beingreadily assembled and disassembled for use at different locations.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedtarget throwing machine of relatively simple though rugged andtroublefree construction.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the followingdescription and accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a target trap or target throwing machineembodying my improvements.

Figure 2 is a discharge end, elevational View of the machine as seenfrom the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-section of the machine or plan of the base portionas seen from the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the top of the machine and showing thecentrifugal throwing arm and controlling contacts in dotted lines.

Figure 5 is a plan of the throwing arm showing a disk target or claypigeon held by a controlled stop preparatory to its release.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of part of the target magazine orchute with target release gates closed.

Figure 6a is a fragmentary view of the structure of Figure 6 showing thetarget release gates in open position.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the inner end of the target magazine.

Figure 8 is an elevation of one side of the inner portion of the targetmagazine.

Figure 9 is an enlarged plan view and Figure 10 is an enlarged verticalcross-section of the random contractor switch for determining the,

2 release of targets from the throwing arm at random angles.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the electric wiring of the cooperatingelectric devices used to control the operation of the machine.

Before describing thedrawings in detail, the machine may be generallydescribed as compris ing a base plate l mounted on a foundation 2 andtiltably supporting a round (preferably sheet metal) casing 3 withinwhich is a rotatable target throwing arm 6 which is automatically fedwith targets (clay pigeon disks) one at a time from a magazine 5 mountedon top of the casing 3, or rather upon its lid 3'. The throwing arm 4 isdirectly secured to the shaft of a substantially vertically disposedelectric motor 6, preferably a variable speed motor to afford a controlon the speed and height to which the targets are thrown.

The motor is mounted on a supporting bracket l preferably of skeletonsteel frame construction as indicated, secured rigidly at its upper endto the bottom of the throwing arm casing 3 as by angle irons l, andpivotally mounted at its lower end as by loose pin hinges 8 to the baseplate I so that the frame I with its motor 6 and casing 3 with itsmagazine 5 can all tilt at various angles to the horizontal about theaxis of the hinges 8, and be locked in desired position as by one ormore extendable pivoted braces. the upper and lower sections 9 and 9',respectively, which are pivoted as by loose pin hinges I0, I l to thecasing 3 and base plate I, and the two free ends of which braces overlapand are clamped together by means of a hand lever clamping nut l2 on abolt is passing through slots M in the overlapping ends of the braces.

The base plate I is pivotally secured to the foundation 2 as by afoundation bolt l5 extending up through the base plate with a largewasher l5 around it and with a substantial hand lever nut I? screwed onthe bolt. The opposite margin of the base plate is arcuately slotted asat 58 on a curve struck from the center of pivotal bolt I 5 and maysimilarly be clamped to the foundat on by means of one or morefoundation bolts 19 projecting u through the slot and with a largewasher 20 on the bolt in straddling relat on to the slot I8 and clam edby a substantial hand levered nut 2|, all so that the machine may bebodily revolved and adjusted as to the general direction at which it isdesired to throw targets with respect to the shooters, the targetsthemselves being directed from the machine through arcuate slot 22 inthe edge of the casing 3, at various random angles within the scope ofsaid slot (unknown to the marksmen) through means which wil be describedin detail later on.

As one of the main features of the invention 5 is to provide a targettrap which will hold enough 3 targets i its magazine for a match (atleast 140) and automatically feed them one at a time to a constantlyrevolving throwing arm, and throw themat successive random angles, allupon the simple. pressingv of. a button or foot switch by the shooter orattendant, the magazine will first be described in detail.

The target magazine is preferably of sheet metal and takes the form ofaninclined chute with parallel side walls 5 spaced apart to freelyreceive several stacks of nested disk targets T arranged in a row andsupported upon a pair of polished or anti-friction strips or tracks 23(Figures 4 and 6) secured to the bottom wall 24 of the magazine. Themagazine is high enough to take stacks of about 14 01"15 targets, asthis is the height they come in the boxes from the manufacturer; andthus the stacks of target may be bodily transferred from the originalboxes to the magazine.

As it is desired to carry from 140 to 150 of the disk targets'inthe'magazine, this would require about a dozen stacks in the row (toallow for some broken ones), and as this makes quite a long magazinechute I preferably make the body of the magazine with one or moredetachable sections 5' which are hooked together as by slidable lockjoints 25 formed in the extreme ends of the sheet metal side-walls. Theextension sections have their tracks overlapping the slightly extendingbottom of the lower section of the magazine as indicated at 23 to act asstops, and thus permit of sliding a section vertically in place down tothese stops, and of easily lifting a section off when not in use or intransporting the machine.

The lowermost section of the magazine is secured to the lid or coverplate 3 of the casing 3 of the machine by any suitable easily detachablemeans not shown, and its lower end is closed and rounded'to conform toand receive the target disks, and its axis X (Figure 5) is positionedabout a half inch out of line With the axis XX of rotation of thethrowing arm 4 below it in the casing.

Within the lower rounded end wall of the magazine is a sheet of rubberor rubberized fabric 26 (Figure 6) or the like, against which thelowermost stack of targets comes to rest directly over a pair of trapdoors or rather sliding doors 21, 21' which are slidable in guides28'and normally partially close an opening 29 in the bottom 24 of themagazin andthrough which the targets can ran; one at a time to thethrowing arm 4.

The sliding doors or gates are linked together by duplicate systems oflevers 3B, 3!, 32 (Figures 6 and6a)' pivotally securedto the magazinefloor 2 by pivots 32', so that they will open or close in oppositedirections in response to movement of one of these doors. To operatethese doors, I provide an electric solenoid 33' secured to the bottomplate 2'4 of the magazine and with its movable armature 34 connect-ed asat 35' to one of the doors (27) So as to forcibly open it when thesolenoid is energized. The other door, of

course, opens simultaneously by reason of the connecting linkage, andupon de-energizing' of the'solenoid' a pair of tension springs 36'anchored at one end to the bottom plate 24' and connected by flexiblemembers 3! to one of the doors, at once closes them. It is manifestwithout an additional drawing figure that the closing spring may beotherwise arranged, or placed to act direct on the solenoid core ifdesired.

'As part'of the electric control of'the machine a flexible electriccontact strip, such as a light arched leaf spring 38 (Figures 6a, 8 and11) is conductively secured as at 39 to the closed end of. the magazinwith the spring free to flex in a slot 40 in the rubber. sheet 26,.andthe lower end of which spring carries an electrical contact piece 4!adapted to break circuit with a contact member 42 when the arched spring38 is flattened as by pressure against it from the lowermost stack oftargets. Upon dropping of the last target of such stack, the spring isreleased to expand inwardly to thereby close the contacts |42 andenergize an electro-magnet 43 to pull down an armature 44 secured to theround end of a U-shaped or bent latching lever 45 pivoted at oppositesides of the magazine at 46, and thereby'lift, the two free ends 45 fromnotched engagement with a couple of stops 4? which normally through theforce of light springs 48 project inward through openings in the sidewalls of the magazine into the path of the stacks of targets as shown inFigure 6, but due to their wedg form in plan, would easily be pushedaside by the weight of the descending stacks of targets, were the springstops 4? not locked in inward position by the ends 45' respectively oflever 05 when in position shown in Figure 8.

Thus when th last target of that pile which is over the trap doors 21,21, falls through, contacts -42 are permitted to close, therebyenergizing magnet 43which in turn operates the lever 45 to release stops47. These are then pushed outwardly under pressure of the remainingstacks of targets, and another pil or stock of nested targets will slideto the lower end of the magazine chute, whereupon stops 4? will springinwardly again to stop the next stack. of targets, contacts ll l2 becomeagain separated, magnet as is de-energized, and latching ends 45 oflever 35 being overweighted (or assisted by a light spring if desired)will fall to lock the stops 4'! in inward position until the last targetin the stack over the trap doors is used, whereupon the cycle willautomatically be repeated.

If the tilted angular adjustment of the throwing arm casing (andconsequently the magazine) is too fiat to make the row of stacks oftargets slide downward freely, any desired spring or gravity follow upmay be put in backof the last stack, 01' even a heavy metal roller 49(Figure 1) will serve such purpose.

When the trap doors open to drop the lowermost target disk from a stack,a pair of clamps 89' (Figures 6, 6a' and 8) first move inwardly toembrace and hold the remainder of the stack from falling. These clampsare preferably shod with rubber or felt, are pivoted to the magazine at8'! to swing through openings 82 (Figure 8) in the walls of themagazine, and are linked for operation to trap door operating levers 30as by links 83, so that before the trap doors are fully opened, theclamps 8i! will have moved inwardly sufficient to have embraced theouter edges of the two targets above the lowermost one and forced theWhole stack under pressure against the rubber sheet 25, and thusfrictionally support the stack while the lower one fails when the trapdoors are open. As the doors close again, the clamps BUgradually'release their pressure on the stack so that the whole stackslides down, without undue shock to again rest upon the closed trapdoors ready for the lower target to fall when the trap doors open again.

Every time the solenoid 33 opens the trap doors to drop a target disk tothe'throwing arm,

a ratchet hook 50 (Figures 6 and 9) pivoted at 5| to trap door 2'? ispulled forward to carry the hook end 52 beyond. engaging position withteeth 53 of a ratchet wheel 53 idling upon the shaft 54 of a randomcontact switch device generally designated '55. When the trap doors snapclosed, this hook end 52 engages one of the ratchet teeth and gives theratchet wheel a sudden though short spin to thus set the switch foranother random contact. These contacts, as will be discussed in moredetail later, control the random angle of throwing of the targets fromthe arm 4 within the limits permitted by the slot 22. Ratchet hook 5B isresiliently urged toward the ratchet wheel 53 by a light spring 58, andmay swing on its pivot to the limit between stop pins 51-58.

A small spring pressed pawl 59 prevents reverse movement of the ratchetwheel and also insures that the ratchet wheel will stop at definitepoints of advancement each time. Secured to ratchet wheel 53 is aninsulating disk 61 (Figure shod with a conducting disk 6i from whichprojects a spring brush arm i5 9 arranged to revolve against the lowerrounded ends of nine spaced contact pins as supported in a circular rowon a fixed plate 53 of insulating material, each contact pin beingseparately wired as at H! to a magnetic target release 68 on thethrowing arm, for throwing the targets in random directions (seeelectric circuit diagram Figure 11). Ratchet wheel 53 and its brushmountings 6i, 5! are all small and light so that they spin but a momentor two from each pull of hook '58, and the brush is preferably cuppedout to fit over and come to rest directly on one of the contact pins 62,an action which is aided by spring pawl 59 engaging successive ratchetteeth. The electric circuit to spring brush includes a wiping contact orbrush 6D sliding on plate 55.

The throwing arm 4 is provided with a hub a (Figure 5) detachablysecuredto the motor shaft as (Figure 2), as by a set screw 55 so that itmay easily be lifted therefrom when the lid 3 of easing 3 is removed.The throwing is preferably of sheet metal suitably counterbalanced as ata", and of a length so that its outer end just clears the circular wallof the casing 3 as it revolves at high speed when the motor 8 isrunning.

Secured to the u cer face of the arm is a spiral shaped upstandingflange or wall 66 lined interiorly along its upper portion with a toughresilient strip of material 6! such as rubber, or fabric rubber mixture.leather, or cork, for the purpose of engaging the next to outer edge ofa disk target and spinning it on its own axis as hurls it outward bycentrifugal force. The disk targets T are of inverted saucer shapeformed with a secondary circular step or wall T (Figure '7) spacedwithin the iameter of the extreme outer edge, and which is round andfree from defects found on the outer edge, and hence best for contactingthe spinning strip 6?.

When a target is dropped from he magazine to the spinning arm l, it isdeposited thereon slightly olf center as indicated by the dotted position T" and through the effect of centrifugal force at once shifts tocontact the spinning strip 61 and moves with. gradually increasing velocy outward, but is stopped at the full line po-siti 1 of Figure 5 by amagnetic brake or stop comprlsing a solenoid 65 carrying a brake block59 at the end of its movable core iii.

The body of the solenoid 63 is secured to the throwing arm, and themovable core 10 is normally urged outward as by a spring H to cause thebrake block 69 (preferably of soft material such as rubber or felt) toblock the passage of the target and hold it against the centrifugal urgeof the constantly spinning arm until the solenoid is energized towithdraw the core l0 and release the target for almost instant hurlingfrom the arm out of the peripheral slot 22 in the edge of the circularcasing 3.

In case any of the targets are broken into several pieces, or arecracked and break upon falling to the t rowing arm, they will not bestopped by solenoid. stop 58 but will scatter out of the casing slot, orif any fall into the casing below the arm, they will fall out of anopening at (Figure 1) in the bottom of the casing, and in any event theywill do no harm.

The precise moment of release of stop 59 with respect to the angularrelation of the rotating arm to the length of slot 22 is controlled bythe random connection existing at the moment in the random switch 55,and this in turn fixes the angle which the target leaves the machine fora particular throw The electrical circuit for accomplishing thisincludes the provision of an electric contact brush l2 adjustably andinsulatingly mounted on the circular flange of the throwing arm andwhich brush makes a wiping contact with a circular row of nine spacedcontacts l3 (Figures '7 and 11) carried by an insulating ring illsecured to the underside of the lid 3 of the throwing arm casing, andwhich contacts are respectively wire connected om within the ring to thenin spaced contacts of the random switch 55 as per wiring diagram ofFigure 11.

The winding of solenoid 68 is grounded at one end, and at the other endis connected to the brush '52. The brush, by reason of slots 16 in itsbase, may be adjusted along a circular path after initial securing ofthe same, to any of a row of tapped holes ll located on an arc in theflange of the arm. Similarly, contacts 13 may be arcuately adjusted byscrews 18 passing through arcuate slots in the casing lid 3.

The circular adjustment of the brush contacts within a wide range asshown, provide for rough initial setting and final adjustment (dependingon speed of the driving motor, response of solenoid stop release,current strength, etc.) so as to insure the targets leaving the throwingarm at any of the nine difierent angles indicated by the nine arrows inFigure l, and after once correctly setting these contacts, the angles ofprojection of the targets will be maintained, providing all the factorsare kept fairly constant.

The operation of the machine control circuits will be easily followedfrom a consideration of the electric circuit diagram of Figure 11 andwherein the general positioning of the shooters and score keeperrelative to the electric control is indicated. In this diagram, thedriving motor, switches, various magnets, solenoids, and associatedoperated parts of the machine above described have been numbered tocorrespond with the same components of the previous figures.

The shooters stand is indicated as an arcuate platform so with severalshooting contestants indicated by the small circles 9 5, each standingadjacent his cartridge supply stand 92. To one side of the shootersstand, as at 83, are the operator and score keeper.

Electric current from a service line 95, is carried by a branch line96-55? to the apparatus.

7 The driving-motor 6 of the machine is connected to this branch lineand brought under control of operator at 93 through a remote switch. Iconnected in one side of this branch line As it is preferable to operatethe electric throwing and feeding control elements by a lower voltage, astep-down transformer I02 is provided across the branch line 969'l, thesecondary of which transformer is grounded at one side, while the highside is connected through wire I04 to magnet 43 and from the magnetthrough return wire I04 to contact 42. As previously indicated, contact42 is adapted to be engaged by contact 4! upon release of sprin 38 whenthe last one of a stack of targets is dropped to the throwing arm. Bygrounding the casing 5 to which the spring 38 is conductively affixed,it will be seen that the solenoid 43 will become energized when itbecomes necessary to release a new stack of targets for disposal at thedispensing end of the magazine, above the trap doors 21, 21'.

A second connection I05 from the high side of the transformer secondaryincludes a switch I01 at the operators stand 93 to give him completecontrol of the trap door operation and the throwing operation of themachine, such connection eX- tending to the rotary spring brush 60 ofthe random switch 55, and by a parallel connection I09, to one side ofthe trap door operating solenoid 33 whose other side is grounded.Individual leads III connect the contact pins 62 of the random switch tocorresponding contacts 13 and these, during operation of the machine,are sequentially grounded through the target brake release solenoid 88by movement of brush 12 thereover. The solenoid becomes energized,however, only through that contact whose circuit at the time includesthe spring brush 60.

Operator's switch I0! is preferably a momentary contact device or springreleased push button so that, upon simple momentary pressure andrelease, the short application of electric energy will have operatedsolenoid 68 and released the target held by brake 69, so that it is freeto be hurled from the revolving arm 4. At the same time solenoid 33 willhave been energized to open the trap doors and drop another target tothe arm. Upon release of the push button, the spring closing of the trapdoors of the feeder will have given a quick jerk to hook 50 and twirledthe random switch 55 to a new position for the subsequent release of afresh target, which by this time will be in position on the throwing armand blocked by the spring returned solenoid brake 69. Thus successivemomentary closing of switch I 0! will successively discharge one at atime all of the large quantity of targets in the feeder magazine.

For skeet shooting, which does not ordinarily call for discharge of thetargets at varying angles as in trap shooting, the switch 55 can befixed to control discharge of the targets at a predetermined angle byremoving the hook 50 or otherwise holding it out of engagement with theratchet wheel 53 and adjusting the contact 60 to the desired one of thecontacts 62 where it will stay put until manually shifted or the switchis restored to automatic operation for trap shooting.

Thus, it will be apparent that I have provided means for carrying outthe objects of my invention, and while I have described a preferredembodiment of the same in considerable detail, the same is subject tomodification or alteration without departing from the principles of theinvention. I, accordingly, do not desire to be limited in my protectionto the specific details 8 disclosed; except as may be necessitated bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a target throwing machine having a throwing member, meanssupporting a row of stacks of disk targets, and means for successivelyreleasing and feeding a target from the bottom of the stack at one endof the row to said throwing member until the targets in said stack areused up, andmeans operative through release of the last target in saidstack for advancing another stack to feeding position in repetition tillthe targets of the last stack in the row have been so fed to the throwinmember.

2. In a target throwing machine having a throwin' member, meanssupporting a row of stacks of disk targets, and means for successivelyreleasing and feeding a target from the bottom of the stack at one endof the row to said throwing member until the targets in said stack areused up, and means operative through release oi the last target in'saidstack for advancing another stack to feeding position in repetition tillthe targets of the last stack in the row have been so fed to thethrowing member, a movable stop on said throwing member stopping thetargets frombeing thrown therefrom, and means withdrawing said movablestop in substantial coordination with the operation of said meansreleasing the targets from the bottom of the stack. 7

3. In a target throwing machine havin a 1'0 tary centrifugal throwingmember, means supporting a row of stacks of disk'targets, andelectrically controlled means for successively releasing and feeding atarget from the bottom of the stack at one end of the row to saidthrowing member untilthe targets in said stack are used up, and meansoperative through release of the last target in said stack for advancinganother stack to feeding position in repetition till the targets of thelast stack in the row have been so fed to the throwing member, a movablestop on said throwing member stopping the targets from being throwntherefrom, and electrically controlled means withdrawing said movablestop in substantial coordination with the operation of said meansreleasing the targets from the bottom of the stack.

4. In the construction as set out in claim 3, the operation of the meansfor withdrawing the movable stop including a random multiple contactswitch operated by the means releasing the targets irom the stack andcontrolling the circuit withdrawing the movable stop to operate the sameat random intervals and thereby discharge the targets from the throwingarm at random points during its revolution.

5. In a target throwing machine having a rotary centrifugal throwingmember, means for supporting a row of stacks of disk targets at inclineso that the stacks will tend to slide toward the lower end of the row,means for successively releasing targets from the bottom of thelowermost stack for feeding to the throwing member, means for holdingback the succeeding stacks from contact with the lowermost stack untilthe last target of said stack has been released, and means operativeupon release of said last target releasing the succeeding stacks formoving downward toward feeding position, and so on until the targets ofthe last stack have been so fed to the throwing member.

6. In a target throwing machine having a rotary centrifugal throwingarm, a target feeder positioned above said arm adapted to-hold aplurality of targets for delivery to said arm, an electricallycontrolled gate arranged for dropping one target at a time to saidthrowing arm, an electrically controlled stop on said arm temporarilyholding the targets from being hurled therefrom, an electric switchhaving a plurality of contacts, means operated simultaneously with themovement of said gate for operating said switch to close any one of saidcontacts at random, and an operative circuit from said random switch tosaid electrically controlled stop for operating the same to release thesame from target holding position at random points in the revolution ofsaid arm as prescribed by the random contacts of said switch.

7. In a combination as set out in claim 6, circuit contact meansassociated with said rotatable arm insuring the random releasings ofsaid stop to all take place within a predetermined limited arc of therevolution of said arm,

8. In a construction as set out in claim 6, circuit contact meansassociated with said rotatable arm insuring the random releasings ofsaid stop to all take place within a predetermined limited arc of therevolution of said arm, and means for shifting the operative arc of saidrandom releasings to the desired position in the revolution of said arm.

9. In a construction as set out in claim 6, circuit contact meansassociated with said rotatable arm insuring the random releasings ofsaid stop to all take place within a predetermined limited arc of therevolution of said arm, a circular casing enclosing said rotarycentrifugal arm formed with a peripheral slot only through which thetargets can emerge when hurled from said arm.

10. In a target throwing machine of the character described having arotary centrifugal throwing arm, a target magazine with a. feeder at oneend for feeding targets successively to said throwing arm, and a movablestop on said arm for holding a target thereon against the tendency ofcentrifugal force to throw the target from said arm, and means forrotating the arm, elec tric operable means for successively feedingtargets from the magazine to said arm, electric operable means forreleasing said stop from target holding position, and electric circuitmeans including a remote control switch for energizing both saidelectric operable means.

11. In a target throwing machine of the character described having arotary centrifugal throwing arm, a target magazine with a feeder at oneend for feeding targets successively to said throwing arm, and a movablestop on. said arm for holding a target thereon against the tendency ofcentrifugal force to throw the target from said arm, and means forrotating the arm, electric operable means for successively feedingtargets from the magazine to said arm, electric operable means forreleasing said stop from target holding position, and electric circuitmeans including a remote control momentary contact switch for energizingboth said electric operable means substantiall simultaneously.

12. In a construction as set out in claim 10, a plurality of contactsspaced respectively with respect to diiferent points of revolution ofsaid throwing arm, arranged to be selectively in circuit with theelectric operable means for releasing the stop.

13. In a construction as set out in claim 10, a plurality of contactsspaced respectively with respect to different points of revolution ofsaid throwing arm, arranged to be selectively in circuit with theelectric operable means for releasing the stop, and a random contactswitch device predetermining which one of said plurality of contactsshall control the release of said stop.

14. In a target throwing machine of the character described, a rotarycentrifugal target throwing member, a circular casing enclosing saidmember and provided with a peripheral slot of limited length and onlythrough which the targets can leave said member, a lid closing the upperside of said casing over said throwing memoer, a target magazinesupported on top of said lid, and means for feeding targets one by onefrom said magazine through an opening in said lid to said throwingmember.

15. In a target throwing machine of the character described having arotary centrifugal target throwing member with a target magazinesupported above the throwing member for feeding targets thereto, saidmagazine having the form of an elongated chute with side walls spaced toguide a series of stacks of targets toward one end of the magazine, andthe magazine formed of sections adapted to be connected together to varythe length of the magazine.

16. In a target throwing machine of the character described having arotary centrifugal target throwing member, with a target magazinesupported above the throwing member for feeding targets thereto, saidmagazine having the form of an elongated chute with side walls spaced toguide a series of stacks of targets toward one end of the magazine, atrap door arranged for dropping targets from a stack at said one end ofthe magazine, movable stop means holding oncoming stacks clear of thestack over the trap door, and means actuated upon dropping of the lasttarget from the stack over the trap door for releasing said stop meansto permit another stack to move to the trap door.

17. In a target throwing machine having a target throwing member and atarget magazine supported above the throwing member for feed ing targetsthereto, a pair of oppositely slidable trap doors in the bottom of themagazine arranged to open for dropping a target to said throwing member,a movable clamp above the target to be dropped arranged to hold anytargets above from falling, a solenoid connected to one of the trapdoors for operating the same electrically, and lever means pivotallyconnecting the solenoid operated trap door with the oppositely movabledoor and with said movable clamp for simultaneous operation.

PETE J. HEROLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 683,308 Lord Sept. 24, 1901715,179 Trautner Dec. 20, 1902 1,284,999 Blair Nov. 19, 1918 1,293,075Frisch Feb. 4, 1919 1,376,013 Gilbert Apr. 26, 1921 2,242,596 Parker eta1 May 20, 1941

